Max von Baden

Max von Baden, full name Maximilian Alexander Friedrich Wilhelm (10 July 1867 – 6 November 1929) was a German prince and politician, who held the title of Margrave of Baden. He was best known for serving as the last Chancellor of the German Empire in 1918 and for being the heir of the Grand Duchy of Baden.

Biography
Born in 1867, he was a member of the House of Baden, the son of Prince Wilhelm Max and Princess Maria Maximilianovna of Leuchtenberg. He received a humanistic education and studied law at Leipzig University. Maximilian married Princess Marie Louise of Hanover in 1900. He later trained as an officer in the Prussian Army, and also became the head of the upper house of the Baden parliament. Max von Baden was discharged in 1911 at the rank of major general.

When World War I broke out in 1914, Maximilian returned to the Imperial German Army as a general staff officer in the XIV Corps. He also served as the representative of Grand Duke Frederick II of Baden (the XIV Corps included Baden troops). However, Max von Baden soon retired from the position due to ill health. He later reached high positions in German Red Cross and organized prisoner-of-war exchanges.

Due to his liberal anti-war stance, he came into conflict with Field Marshals Erich Ludendorff and Paul von Hindenburg of the Army Supreme Command (Oberste Heeresleitung, OHL). His opposition to the war and work with POWs gave him an appearance of being distant from the nationalist and militarist elements of the German upper echelons. It was partly for this reason that he was considered as a potential chancellor, at the request of Foreign Office official Kurt Hahn.

Styles

 * 10 July 1867 – 8 August 1928: His Grand Ducal Highness Prince Maximilian of Baden
 * 9 August 1928 – 6 November 1929: His Royal Highness Maximilian, Margrave of Baden